Espérance: When Dreams are Delayed



Someone’s curious about the meaning of the word Espérance, don’t worry I’ll tell you at the end of this article. For now, please pay attention to the poem below, I actually took my time with it. If you relate with it in some way or the other, then be assured that this article is for you. I may not have the exact answers you want, but I’ll tell you what keeps me running, I’ll share with you the secret of my consistency.

I would also like to apologise to any reader outside of Nigeria, and those who don’t understand Nigerian pidgin, as the poem has a blend of it.

Now to the poem…

…

I’ve got stuff, I’ve got dreams.

I’ve got focus, I’ve got beams.

I’m always a vibe, cos I’ve got streams.

I know I should be balling, but then the strings.

They keep pulling me back, causing constrains.

 

When will I be big?

When will I blow?

I wanna count the dollars?

How else can I flow?

I wanna bank the billions?

And not just sow.

Cos I’ve been sowing,

Now I just want to grow.

 

I wan give Papa mansion

Make Mama forget pension

These parents of mine

Deserve more than attention

I want to see them mention

That God gave them the best son

But wetin I go do

When dreams no come to fruition

 

When will I sign the deals?

Why is it taking ever?

When will I win the grants?

This wait is like forever.

I’m putting in my best,

But no one’s bringing offers.

This reality,

Looks like hays and feathers.

 

Does the poem in anyway relate with you? Do you have big dreams that are actually taking forever? Are you at a point where you feel your efforts are not worth it? Like, they are not yielding, and you’re no longer encouraged. Do you have friends who seem to have it easier? The things you dream, they’ve got them with lesser stress?

Did you answer yes to any of my questions? Then this next poem is for you, although it’s fully in pidgin, but I’ll put my thoughts more clearly in the paragraphs following.

…

Hey, my gee chillax.

In this life, relax.

With time,

Season dey relapse.

Another person story,

No fit be your chief axe.

No dey loose guard o.

This is the point friend, your time is coming. And if you’ll ask me, I think you’re already being successful. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Sometimes, you might need to distract yourself from the dreams, and find joy in the moment. Who is the one person your effort is currently impacting? Be grateful for that one. Do you have just a customer, just a follower on social media, just a vision partner, just one little girl drawing her inspiration from you, just one boy benefitting from your help, while others keep ignoring? Be grateful for that one, and serve that one the best way you can.

Get to a point where it is your purpose that gives you joy, and not the big dreams and ambitions you have. Get to a point where your joy is fueled by doing what you do, and not by the appreciation that flows from men. A wise man once said, “I’m not pumped by the appreciation from men, so I cannot be deflated by their criticisms”. Money cannot be your motivation, when it comes to living a life of purpose.

You’re already being successful. The journey of a thousand miles, begins with a step. Stop using the wrong standards as reference for your personal progress. Even if I never blow, the point is, I find joy in the things I do, and that for me is SUCCESS.

I promised you the meaning of the word ESPÉRANCE right? Okay, it is the French word for HOPE. So keep your hope alive, even when dreams are delayed. It may take time, it’s just a season, and it’s for a reason. Eventually your dreams will come to pass. I’m cheering you on. Keep hope alive, ESPÉRANCE!

Oluwadurotimi Okediji.

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